MOST LAWMAKERS WAITING FOR MORE SYRIA FACTS

San Diego County’s five-member congressional delegation is reflective of the nervousness in the country over whether to strike Syria in response to the alleged chemical weapons attack that killed an estimated 1,400 civilians last month.

The Obama administration says the attack on a Damascus neighborhood was approved by Syrian President Bashar Assad and that a response is necessary.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday approved a resolution authorizing Obama to take military action short of inserting ground troops within a 60-day period. A 30-day extension is allowed if he believes more time is necessary.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, is wary of opening another military front in the Middle East.

“Tens of thousands have been killed by the Assad regime in this brutal conflict — relatively few by chemical weapons. A military response that places an arbitrary focus on such weapons will do little to protect civilians and sends a deeply misguided signal that totalitarian regimes should only use conventional weapons to carry out mass murder,” he said.

Issa said that to earn his vote to use arms against Syria, the president must “present a clear plan focused on effective humanitarian intervention or our national security interests.”

After the prolonged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the public is largely opposed to using force in Syria. A Pew Research Center poll conducted Aug. 29-Sept. 1 showed 48 percent of respondents opposed with only 29 percent in favor.

Freshman Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, is the only local member of Congress clearly with Obama. He said a review of classified documents placing responsibility for the chemical attack squarely with Assad’s government is convincing and merits a response.

“We cannot look away when more than a thousand Syrians, including innocent women and children, are gassed by their own government,” Vargas said Wednesday. “As Secretary of State (John) Kerry said, ‘if we back off … that would be one of those moments that would live in infamy.’”

Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, was undecided as of Wednesday, according to spokesman Michael Campbell.

“He is listening to the concerns of his constituents on both sides of the issue and looks forward to getting classified briefings from national security officials,” Campbell said.

Over the Labor Day weekend, Peters said he needs to be sure of the objective.

“I understand President Obama’s concern that these atrocities not be ignored,” he said in a prepared statement, calling the chemical attack reprehensible. “As I consider the president’s request for support, I will need to determine our intended objective, the specific actions to be taken, the expected response, our exit strategy, and how these efforts will protect American interests both in the region and here at home.”

Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, last week called for the U.S. to train and funnel small arms to the Free Syrian Army, one of the leading opposition groups. But Hunter remains uncertain about the administration’s overall strategy in Syria, issuing a statement on Twitter Tuesday that Obama was “inviting impeachment” if he went ahead without congressional approval.

Under the 40-year-old War Powers Resolution, the president can order military action on his own. The law simply requires he alert Congress within 48 hours of doing so.

“The right move was going to Congress for authority,” Hunter said. “But there’s still a lot that needs to be sorted out between now and a vote.”

Like Peters, Hunter said he wants to examine all the intelligence reports before making a final call on how he might vote on an resolution authorizing the president to strike.

Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, remains undecided. Spokesman Aaron Hunter said the lawmaker is looking at the evidence, the resolution and talking to experts and constituents.

Full House and Senate votes are expected a few days after Congress returns to work Tuesday following a five-week summer recess.